Items crafted from sea turtles, arapaima are CITES violations
DALLAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists are always looking to intercept prohibited and restricted items before they enter the United States. This work is accomplished at every U.S. port of entry and at other points of entry into the country, including express consignment shipment facilities.
of boots crafted from sea turtles and an arapaima.
It was at one such facility that agriculture specialists found three pairs of boots crafted from sea turtles and an arapaima, which are violations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). A belt made from sea turtles was also found in the shipment.
“It is not surprising the various items our officers and agriculture specialists encounter when examining international cargo,” said Dallas CBP Port Director Timothy Lemaux. “In this year alone, our officers and agriculture specialists found a growing number of marijuana shipments, luxury counterfeit footwear and now boots made from endangered species. Regardless of the item, if it is illegal, restricted or prohibited, then our teams of officers and agriculture specialists are on the hunt for it.”
In this instance, CBP’s agriculture specialists coordinated with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services who confirmed the shipment of goods were CITES schedule I and II violations as well as a violation of the Lacey Act; They then seized the items.
CBP’s highly-trained agriculture specialists are the front line in safeguarding America’s agricultural resources. On a typical day in fiscal year 2019, CBP agriculture specialists across the nation seized 4,695 prohibited plants, meats, animal byproducts, and soil and intercepted 314 pests. For more information about CBP’s agriculture mission, please visit www.CBP.gov.